xp_logs | Log: Remy/Ororo: Apologies

Remy seeks out Ororo to try and patch things up after their last talk.

The sun was shining, bright for a Monday afternoon. Remy didn't think Ororo had anything to do with it. She was one of the most restrained people with her powers that he knew, responsible and patient. Made it somewhat rankling that he'd essentially used that as a way to push her into the background. The one thing that had come out of his enforced solitude to think had been that the cost of six months outside of the country had not been borne by him alone, and he was forced to admit that on returning, he'd forgotten that fact. Then with Wisdom's death and the various crises, he'd left behind the need to be something other than the job because it was easier that way.

Hopefully it hadn't cost him the thing he cared about more than the job, and had lost sight of. He had called ahead to get her schedule, and knew that if she wasn't teaching, she'd either be grading papers or in the greenhouse, and he gambled that she'd want to enjoy the sun and the traces of warmth.

She did, though she also did need to attend to her marking, which was why she was currently killing two birds with one stone. Several essays were spread out on the bench in front of the weatherworker-cum-English teacher as she turned her attention to the one in her hand, reading it through for a second time and formulating her thoughts. There were only so many ways one could tactfully say 'you just didn't get it, did you?', but luckily Ororo knew them all.

The door to the greenhouse was latched, and Remy could have picked it silently, snuck into the greenhouse, and emerged like a wraith from the cover of the plants as he so often chose to. However, this wasn't the time for theatrics, and he settled for rapping slightly on the glass to get her attention.

It was hard to tell from Ororo's expression what she was thinking when she glanced up and saw Remy at the door, but she waved him in, setting aside her pen as he entered. "Good afternoon, Remy. I did not know you had business at the mansion"

"I don't really. I mean, at de mansion. Well, I mean, Remy has business at de mansion but it's not wit' de mansion and-" Remy stopped and shook his head. Zero to blather in under two seconds. That had to be some kind of record. "What I'm very badly trying to say is dat I'm here to see you."

"Oh." A moment, and then Ororo smiled, nodding her head as if accepting this explanation over the many others there could possibly be. "Thank you for coming. I have missed seeing you."

"Likewise." Remy took a seat at the bench across from the small table stacked with tests, hands clasped lightly and his elbows resting on his knees. "You know, at first, I had dis long statement planned 'bout how I was going to take dis amount of time off, and we were going to have a certain amount of time for us every week, and den I realized dat was missing de point. De point was dat no matter how much I missed you when I had to stay 'way from de US, I forgot all 'bout de fact dat you'd feel de same, no matter how much you understood de reasons behind it."

"I do not want you to think I am trying to punish you for your job, Remy. Of course I understand the necessity of what you had, and what you have yet to do," Ororo murmured. "Your drive to accomplish these things, to make a difference... it is a great part of what I love about you. Please do not think I do not respect that, or consider it unimportant."

"I know dat. But-" Remy paused, and took a breath. "Dis thing wit' us. I still think dat, in many ways, I forfeited de right to care 'bout myself and what happens to me, because of Gambit. But I can't care 'bout you, can't be part of what you deserve by being willing to subject you to de fact dat you care 'bout me, and I'm willing to toss my own life aside. Dat's where I've fucked up, 'ro. I can't say dat I love you, while at de same time destroying myself and ignoring de fact dat it causes you pain. Dat's what I want to apologize for."

Ororo said nothing at first, merely reaching over to lace her fingers with his, allowing the stillness and serenity of the greenhouse to speak for her. "I am glad you have realized this," she said eventually. "And of course I accept your apology. If you truly mean it - if you will keep this in mind the next time the world explodes and life demands you to do more than you're able."

"Remy think dat it has to be more den dat." He said, an odd light in his red on black eyes. "Dere's nothing in de world dat means more to me den you, 'ro. I'm still amazed every time you come back, and dat's what needs to change. I need you to help me understand dat, so it's not about just setting aside time, and more knowing dat if you care 'bout me, dere's something dere dat's worth it and should be considered."

"That," she told him, "is definitely something I can help with." As if to start this off immediately she leaned in, placing a light kiss on Remy's lips, her own curving into a smile as she did so.

Remy relaxed into the kiss, his own tension slowly starting to unknot in her embrace. He couldn't imagine how he'd ever deserved to have this woman, but thanked whatever fates involved daily for it. Now if only there was a moron filter he could apply in the future.

"You know, wit' all our responsibilities, it probably won't be right to play hooky dis afternoon, but..." Remy kissed the side of her cheek and the lobe of her ear. "Think dat I can tempt you?"

"I think that it would be a fitting start to the new leaf you are turning over to abstain from work or responsibilities for an afternoon. Certainly there would be no better way to prove your dedication than to spend your time doing absolutely nothing productive at all."

"I don't know if I'd call time wit' you unproductive, chere." Remy said, with a sly smile and took her hand. "Ready to make a break for it?"

"With you? Always."